AussieVelo 4
AussieVelo 4 is a long distance touring route covering over 1,800km between Sydney and Adelaide, via Broken Hill.
Section 4c
Section 4c is the third section of the route (starting from central Sydney) travelling 96km between Lithgow and Newbridge, and is one of the hilliest sections on AussieVelo 4. There is much to see and do on the Central West Slopes of NSW, AussieVelo 4 (section c) provides access to much, including the Bathurst, Oberon, and Blayney areas.
The section starts from the Lithgow railway station. Lithgow is as far as you can go on a train from Sydney without boxing and checking your bike in as luggage.
Lithgow is a major town with most services and a wide variety of accommodation and food. It is a town with a history of coal mining, but is now the gateway the the national parks on the western side of the Blue Mountains. Check out the Lithgow websites for a wealth of information on the area:
At the other end of the section, Newbridge is a sleepy village originally built around the railway. Accommodation is limited in Newbridge to the Gladstone Hotel and the Amaroo Cottage Farmstay.
To Tarana
(30km from Lithgow)
From the Lithgow railway station, take back streets to the Great Western Hwy, which you ride on for 1.5km, before turning west onto Magpie Hollow Rd. This will introduce you to the first of the hills on the section, down to Lake Lyell and crossing the dam before starting the 6km climb back out and up to the Sodwalls Rd and the view back the way you have travelled.
The Sodwalls Rd provides more great views, and crosses the railway twice where it loops to follow the land contours. In the ‘middle of nowhere’ trees exotic to Australia grow near farm houses, and make a break from the grasses and eucalypts.
Tarana is a quiet village with few services: the Tarana Hotel, and the Universal Cafe, which is only open Friday to Monday. The food and service at the Universal Cafe are great, so plan to stop there for a bite to eat if you are passing through Friday to Monday. You can read the story of a ride from February 2014 that mentions the Tarana Hotel, and followed some of this route.
Oberon – side trip
Thinking of a side trip to Oberon? A history of the Oberon – Tarana railway provides a route description between Oberon and Tarana along with rail history of the line.
There is plenty to see and do in Oberon, including cycling. A visit to the visitor information centre should help you to decide whether to make the 30km (one way) journey.
To O’Connell
(50km from Lithgow)
Turn south onto Mutton Falls Rd, which takes you through more picturesque countryside. There is a popular camping area at 43km (from Lithgow) on the Fish River (no facilities). Here fly fishing and access to the river are both excellent – trout for lunch?
At O’Connell Road turn right. O’Connell Rd is a busier road and care should be taken, although you will be riding in a lower speed environment. The Bathurst Regional Council provides a brief history of the district and a village map. The O’Connell Avenue Cafe and Store is worth a stop (hungry again?) and there is also a hotel in the village.
To Perthville
(73km from Lithgow)
On leaving O’Connell, the road is lined with Desert Ash trees, a memorial to those who served in World War I.
Turn right onto Beaconsfield Rd and then in 1km onto O’Connell Plains Rd at the 51.5km mark. Don’t be fooled by the road name, there are still plenty of hills to climb and creeks to cross – ok, so it’s not quite ‘climb every mountain, ford every stream’ but there are still plenty of challenges ahead! And plenty more scenery to feed the soul.
Near The Lagoon you drop down to the plains around Campbells River, and the fertile soils growing corn and lucerne. Look out for the travelling irrigators in the paddocks, keeping the crops growing over summer.
There are no services at The Lagoon, it is only a district.
At the end of O’Connell Plains Rd turn right onto The Lagoon Rd, towards Bathurst, and at 68.7km turn left onto O’Regans Rd, towards Perthville. The first kilometre of O’Regans Rd is gravel, and may be bypassed (an extra 3.5km) by continuing on The Lagoon Rd to Vale Rd then left to Perthville and back onto the mapped route. This is also the point to make a side trip to Bathurst (9.4km one way), which is well worth the ride, and perhaps spend a night or two there.
Following O’Regans Rd to Perthville, left onto Bathurst St and right onto Bridge St. Services include the Bridge Hotel (open 24 hours), a service station, and there is accommodation in the village.
Bathurst – side trip
Taking a side trip to Bathurst is well worth the effort as there is so much to see and do, visit the Bathurst visitor information web site for ideas on what to see and experience, and where to stay.
Consider a ride around Mount Panorama, you can feel the motor racing history in the road, but check the events calendar as the cicuit is closed for racing at certain times of the year.The National Motor Racing Museum is also located at the entrance to Mount Panorama. Even if you are not into motor racing, riding the circuit is a must when visiting Bathurst.
Bathurst also has good bicycle shops, and a strong cycling club. It is the home of Tour de France rider Mark Renshaw – you may even catch him on a ride or out for a coffee in Bathurst.
To Newbridge
(96km from Lithgow)
At Perthville turn left at the Bridge Hotel and ride south on Trunkey Rd (it was Vale Rd from Bathurst to Perthville, where the road changes names) towards Goulburn. Over the railway (77km) and right onto Wimbledon Rd (80.9km).
You will notice the hills are becoming shorter and not as steep, just two more climbs of around 2km length each before the much deserved 2km downhill into Newbridge.
Newbridge is a quiet village with a railway history, the main service is the Gladstone Hotel, which provides meals and accommodation, but please call them to check the kitchen is open. Alternatively, Amaroo Cottage Farmstay on the outskirts of Newbridge, provides accommodation on a working farm.
Blayney – side trip
It is 14km (one way) into Blayney via Newbridge Rd, should you prefer to stay in a town. See what is available on the Blayney visitor information web site. One place of interest to visit is Carcoar. It is a ‘side trip’ from the next section (4d) of AussieVelo 4.
